Merrill, Henry S. bio

History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 451-452, Astoria Township
Henry Merrill, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 24; P. O., Astoria. Mr. Merrill is one of the leading agriculturists of this county and bears the reputation of a wise, energetic business man, and an enterprising, generous citizen. He was born in Maine April 12, 1826. His father, Israel Merrill, was also a native of that State, where he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia, daughter of Abel Merrill. The history of those who bear the name of Merrill in this section of the country is quite interesting. Sir Peter Merrill came from England and settled in Mass., and it is supposed that those who bear the name are descendants of the colony that settled there. Owing to our limited space we are compelled to note only events of those of this day and generation. Israel Merrill left his old home in Maine during the autumn of 1838, and after a long journey, mostly by water, landed in Astoria tp., and purchased 160 acres of land. Mr. M. worked early and late, and in time became comfortably situated. He died Nov. 12, 1876. Mrs. M. died Sept. 10, 1857. Henry passed his early years amid the associations of pioneer life. Nov. 14, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah McNeill, daughter of David McNeill, one of the pioneers of this county, and a soldier of the war of 1812. We find occasion to mention this gentleman frequently in this work. Henry Merrill has succeeded well in his chosen occupation. In 1846 he had a farm consisting of 80 acres; he now has 280 acres in this county, 165 in Christian Co., and land in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. M. have been blessed with 12 children, 9 of whom are living, - Luther M., Ellery C., Lydia, Henry L., Belle, Hattie, Jacob, Nellie and Benjamin R. Ellery and Luther, who reside on the homestead, are both married. The former married Mary E. Bell, June 1, 1875. Luther married Mary Meredith, December 19, 1878.
submitted by Carla Finley

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 647–649; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Henry S. Merrill is the representative of an old family in this county, and was himself one of its pioneers. He is numbered among its most wealthy farmers and stock-raisers and is one of the largest landowners residing in within its limits, he having nearly one thousand acres of land in various parts of this State, and in Kansas. He is one of the leading citizens of Astoria, where his name is held in hone and respect. He comes of fine old New England stock, and is a native of that section of the country. He was born April 12, 1826, in Kennebunk Port, York County, Me., and is a son of Israel and Lydia (Merrill) Merrill. His paternal grandfather was Jacob Merrill, who was a son of Gideon Merrill, who in turn was a son of Abel Merrill. The latter sprang from Sir Peter Merrill, who come from England about 1650, and settled in Massachusetts. Abel Merrill was born in that State, and at an early date went to Maine and secured a farm in Kennebunk Port. This farm remained in the family until disposed of in 1850 by Jonas Merrill, of the fourth generation. Gideon Merrill was born in Maine and lived there until his death at an advanced age. He was the father of two sons, Jacob and Abel, of whom the former was the paternal grandfather of our subject, and the latter was his maternal grandfather.
Jacob Merrill was born in Maine and was by occupation a sailor. He served in the Continental navy as boatswain during the War for Independence. While he was on one of the West India Islands he was pressed into the British Navy. During that memorable struggle, one night he managed to lower himself from the ship’s side and swam to the shore and escaped. He married Miss Sarah Huff and they reared a large family of sons and daughters. His sons all became sailors. The children were named as follows: Israel; Jacob, who was captain of a vessel and died at sea; William; Jonas, who is a ship carpenter; Ruth, Charlotte, Lucinda, Caroline and Mary, all of whom married except the two last. Jacob died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years, and his wife when about eighty years old.
Israel Merrill, the father of our subject, was a native of York County, Me., and was born in October, 1792. He passed his early years of his life in the place of his birth, and was bred to the calling of a farmer. He served as a privateer during the War of 1812. November 9, 1838, Mr. Merrill left his old New England home to seek a new one in the wilds of the Prairie State. He made his way to Boston, from there went by rail to Providence, thence by water to New York City, from there to Philadelphia and on to Columbia, Pa., by rail, thence by canal to Pittsburg, where he embarked on a steamer on the Ohio River. He was detained on the boat six weeks below Pittsburg on account of a freeze. From St. Louis he came to Fulton County by wagon and took up his abode on the southeastern quarter of section 13, Astoria Township, February 13, and there passed the rest of his days. His land was heavily timbered and it was only by years of hard toil that he improved it into a substantial farm. He died in November, 1876, at the residence of our subject, with whom he lived the three last years of his life, his wife having preceded him a few years. She was an active member of the Congregational Church in Maine, and identified herself with the Methodist Episcopal Church as one of its most useful members after coming to Illinois. She was the mother of five children – Joseph W.; Benjamin R., who died of cholera in 1851; Henry S.; Dr. Stephen A., of Pomoca, Cal., who served as a physician in the late war; Charles, of San Francisco, who served one year in the war in an Illinois regiment. Benjamin and Charles had no families.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of Abel Merrill, a farmer of Main. He was a soldier in the Revolution, took part in the battle of Saratoga, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He married a Miss Burbank, who bore him the following children: Benjamin, a sea captain; Jacob, a sea captain, Edward and Stephen, who were also sailors and died at sea, the latter having been washed overboard at the time of a wreck; John, the fifth son; Lydia and Mary, the latter of whom died unmarried.
Henry Merrill of this biography, was bred to the life of a farmer and received his education in the common schools of Maine. He was a mere boy when the family removed to this State, and after he attained manhood he gave his attention to agriculture. After marriage he located on eighty acres of land, heavily timbered, which is included in his present homestead. He and his brother had purchased one hundred and sixty acres together, and had divided it. They bought a tax title to the land, later the patent, and afterward had to defend their claim in the courts. When he first entered upon his career as a farmer Mr. Merrill worked with his father raising grain, from the sale of which he finally earned money enough to buy his first farm. It was very slow work, as all produce was very cheap. The first team which they used was a yoke of cattle which his father sold for 27. The first cow his father sold brought 8, and our subject sold his first lot of port at one and one-fourth cents a pound, and a yoke of oxen for 3. From these small beginnings he has accumulated a snug fortune. He is one of the largest landowners in this section of the country. The place on which he resides comprises two hundred and eighty acres; he has two farms, containing two hundred and sixty-seven acres in McDonough County; he has two hundred acres in Christian County; and two hundred and forty acres of fine farming land in Kansas. His farms are generally finely improved, supplied with substantial buildings and all the necessary appliances. He has on his homestead one of the most commodious and pleasant residences in Astoria, and his hospitable home is replete with every comfort that can be desired.
Mr. Merrill is much indebted for the prosperity that has come to him, and for his happy home, to the assistance of his amiable wife, formerly Sarah McNeill, to whom he was wedded in the month of November, 1847. Mrs. Merrill is a native of Indiana and a daughter of David and Mary (Cole) McNeill, who were among the earliest settlers of this county. David McNeill was a soldier in the War of 1812. About 1827 or 1828 he came here and settled on section 26, Astoria Township. He was a prominent citizen here for many years, and for a long time served as Justice of the Peace. He was twice married. His first wife bore him the following children: Samuel; John, who was killed in Missouri; Daniel; William James, who served in the late war; Elinor and Sarah. Mr. McNeill’s second marriage was to Mrs. Maria Smith. Their children were Joseph, who served in a cavalry regiment during the war; Wesley, Mary, Rachael, Caroline, Effie and Dora. Both of Mr. McNeill’s wives were prominent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were among its founders in this section.
Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have been blessed with twelve children, namely: Luther; Elery, a resident of the State of Washington; Lydia, a teacher in the public schools of Chicago; Belle, a graduate of Ann Arbor University and a missionary in a hospital in India; Henry; Hettie, now Mrs. Coburn; Nellie, Benjamin and Jacob. Three children died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have given their children liberal educations and otherwise qualified them by careful training in the home to make good and useful members of any community wherever their lots may be case.
Mr. Merrill is a man of more than ordinary ability and force of character, and as one of the pioneers of this county has been potent in its upbuilding. The record of his life in every department which he has been called upon to fill has been such as to command the highest respect and the full confidence of his fellow-men. He has been invaluable to the citizenship of Astoria. In politics he was formerly a Whig and cast his first vote for General Taylor. Since 1856 he has been a stanch and uncompromising Republican. He has never sought office, preferring the quiet and happiness of his peaceful fireside to the turmoil of public life. However, unsolicited and without his knowledge, he was nominated in 1876 by his party to make the race for a seat in the Legislature.